New York, NY, June 8, 2012: The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) joined the League of American Orchestras in presenting 24 awards to orchestras who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to contemporary composers at a special Awards Presentation held today during the League"s 67th National Conference in Dallas.
Commenting on the Adventurous Programming Awards, Cia Toscanini, ASCAP’s Vice President of Concert Music, said: "For the past 55 years, the members of ASCAP have presented adventurous programming awards to orchestras that enrich the repertory and insure that concert music in America remains relevant and alive. ASCAP salutes those orchestras and music directors whose programming demonstrates a commitment to the music creators of our time."
ASCAP’s annual Adventurous Programming Awards recognize American orchestras whose past season prominently featured music written within the last 25 years.
The winners are:
John S. Edwards Award for Strongest Commitment to New American Music
South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Delta David Gier, Music Director
Morton Gould Award for Innovative Programming
San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas, Music Director
Leonard Bernstein Award for Educational Programming
Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä, Music Director
Award for American Programming on Foreign Tours
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, Donato Cabrera, Music Director
Awards for Programming of Contemporary Music
Group 1 Orchestras
First Place: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, Music Director
Second Place: Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Giancarlo Guerrero, Music Director
Third Place: The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Group 2 Orchestras
First Place: Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Justin Brown, Music Director
Second Place: New World Symphony, America's Orchestral Academy, Michael Tilson Thomas, Artistic Director
Third Place: Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Arild Remmereit, Music Director
Group 3/4 Orchestras
First Place: Chicago Sinfonietta, Mei-Ann Chen, Music Director
Group 5/6 Orchestras
First Place: American Composers Orchestra, Robert Beaser, Artistic Director; George Manahan, Music Director; Derek Bermel, Creative Advisor
Second Place: Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose, Artistic Director
Third Place: Peoria Symphony Orchestra, George Stelluto, Music Director and Conductor
Group 7/8 Orchestras
First Place: Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Anthony Spain, Music Director
Second Place: The Lake Superior Chamber Orchestra, Warren Friesen, Artistic Director and Conductor
Third Place: Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Golan, The Helen N. Jewett Music Director
Collegiate Orchestras:
First Place: Cornell University Orchestras, Chris Younghoon Kim, Director of Orchestras
Second Place: Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra, Jeffery Meyer, Director of Orchestras
Third Place: Lamont Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Golan, Music Director and Conductor
Youth Orchestras:
First Place: Contemporary Youth Orchestra, Liza Grossman, Music Director
Second Place: Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, Allen Tinkham, Music Director
Festivals:
First Place: Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, Marin Alsop, Music Director and Conductor
Second Place: Aspen Music Festival and School, Robert Spano, Music Director-Designate
About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 435,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com
# # #
Press Contact:
Bobbi Marcus
Bobbi Marcus PR & Events, Inc.
(310) 889-9200
bobbi.marcus@bobbimarcuspr.com